Corsican finch

The Corsican finch was first formally formal description as Citrinella corsicana in 1899 by the German zoologist Alexander Koenig with its type locality given as Corsica.{{ cite journal | last=Koenig | first=Alexander | author-link=Alexander Koenig | year=1899 | title=Eine neu Vogelart von der Insel Corsica | language=de | journal=Ornithologische Monatsberichte | volume=7 | issue=7 | page=120 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32584537 }} It was formerly regarded a subspecies of the citril finch (C. citrinella), but it differs in morphology and vocalizations as well as mtDNA sequence and they are now considered distinct species.{{cite journal | last1 = Förschler | first1 = M.I. | last2 = Kalko | first2 = E.K.V. | year = 2007 | title = Geographical differentiation, acoustic adaptation and species boundaries in mainland citril finches and insular Corsican finches, superspecies Carduelis [citrinella] | journal=Journal of Biogeography | volume = 34 | issue = 9| pages = 1591–1600 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01722.x | bibcode = 2007JBiog..34.1591F | s2cid = 28037228 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227511008 }}{{cite journal |author1=Förschler, Marc |author2=Senar, Juan Carlos |author3=Perret, Philippe |author4=Björklund, Mats |year=2009 |title=The species status of the Corsican finch Carduelis corsicana assesed by three genetic markers with different rates of evolution |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=234–40 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2009.02.014|pmid=19249374 |bibcode=2009MolPE..52..234F }} The Corsican finch is classified within the genus Carduelis, with the citril finch being its closest relative, although the Corsican finch split from the citril finch lineage around 1.37 million years ago. However, they are more closely related to one another than either is to the European goldfinch (C. carduelis). The genus Carduelis is classified within the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae.{{cite journal | last1=Zuccon | first1=Dario | last2=Prŷs-Jones | first2=Robert | last3=Rasmussen | first3=Pamela C. | last4=Ericson | first4=Per G.P. | date=February 2012 | title=The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=62 | issue=2 | pages=581–596 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002 | url=http://www.nrm.se/download/18.9ff3752132fdaeccb6800010935/Zuccon%20et%20al%202012.pdf | pmid=22023825 | bibcode=2012MolPE..62..581Z | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193317/http://www.nrm.se/download/18.9ff3752132fdaeccb6800010935/Zuccon%20et%20al%202012.pdf | archive-date=2015-06-10 }}

The Corsican finch is a small finch, with a length of between {{cvt|11.5|and|12.5|cm}}. It is very similar to the citril finch but it has a brown back marked with dark streaks and the yellow underparts and face have less of a green tinge than seen in the citril finch. It also has greyish rather than olive uppertail coverts.{{cite book |author=Lars Svensson |author2=Killian Mullarney |author3=Dan Zetterström |name-list-style=& |year=2022 |title=Collins Bird Guide |edition=3 |pages=394–395|isbn=9780008547455 |publisher=William Collins}} The colours of the females are duller than the males.{{cite web |url=https://ebird.org/species/corfin1 |title=Corsican Finch |access-date=8 April 2025 |website=eBird}}

The Corsican finch has vocalisations similar to those of the citril finch but the flight call has been described as weaker and moretremulous while the song is longer, with more structure and has been compared to that of a Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes).

The Corsican finch is found on Corsica and Sardinia as well as the islands of Gorgona, Capraia and Elba in the Tuscan Archipelago.{{cite web |url=https://www.oiseaux.net/birds/corsican.finch.html |title=Corsican Finch Carduelis corsicana - Venturon corse |access-date=8 April 2025 |website=oiseaux.net}} During the breeding season the Corsican finch is found from lowland garrigue up to montane areas where it inhabits dry scrub and conifer forests, mainly of European black pine (Pinus nigra) and maritime pine (P. pinaster), which may be open or semi open. It can also be found in heathland with Tree heath (Erica) and bushes, mostly Genista and bramble (Rubus), as well as alder (Alnus) groves and areas where there are lightly scattered conifers. In subalpine zones this species occurs in low juniper (Juniperus). When not breeding these birds make local movements into areas of scrub in lowland valleys, plains and coastal areas.{{cite web |url=https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/corsican-finch-carduelis-corsicana |title=Corsican Finch |access-date=8 April 2025 |publisher=Birdlife International}}

The Corsican finch is an altitudinal migrant, with montaine breeding birds spending the non breeding season at lower elevations. The breeding season occurs from mid-march to, at least, June. They build a nest which is a loosely woven, shallow cup of fine grasses, plant fibres and down, moss, animal hair and feathers. The nest is typically located up to {{cvt|3|m}} above the ground in low shrubs or trees. The clutch is between two and five eggs. The diet of the Corsican finchIincluds the seeds of European black pine, grasses (Poa, Briza) and herbs. In Sardinia this species feeds on the larval and pupal stages of ermine moths.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal | last1 = Pasquet | first1 = E. | last2 = Thibault | first2 = J.-C. | year = 1997 | title = Genetic differences among mainland and insular forms of the Citril Finch Serinus citrinella | journal = Ibis | volume = 139 | issue = 4| pages = 679–684 | doi=10.1111/j.1474-919x.1997.tb04691.x}}
• {{cite journal | last1 = Sangster | first1 = G | year = 2000 | title = Genetic distance as a test of species boundaries in the Citril Finch Serinus citrinella: a critique and taxonomic reinterpretation | journal = Ibis | volume = 142 | issue = 3| pages = 487–490 | doi=10.1111/j.1474-919x.2000.tb04447.x}}
• {{cite journal | last1 = Sangster | first1 = George | last2 = Knox | first2 = Alan G. | last3 = Helbig | first3 = Andreas J. | last4 = Parkin | first4 = David T. | year = 2002 | title = Taxonomic recommendations for European birds | journal = Ibis | volume = 144 | issue = 1| pages = 153–159 | doi = 10.1046/j.0019-1019.2001.00026.x }}
• Zamora J, Moscoso J, Ruiz-del-Valle V, Lowy E, Serrano-Vela JI, et al. (2006) Conjoint mitochondrial phylogenetic trees for canaries (Serinus spp.) and goldfinches (Carduelis spp.) show several specific polytomies. Ardeola 53: 1–17. {{s2cid|46892185}}

• [http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Carduelis-corsicana Audio recordings from Xeno-canto]

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Corsican finch

Category:Birds of Southern Europe

Category:Fauna of Corsica

Category:Fauna of Sardinia

Corsican finch